Flow-meter.



A. R. DODGE.

FLOW METER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI,1914.

1 9 1 n 9 1M 3 my OH F. H M? t2 n e t a D1 E x|aansible ElzzpansibleInventor: J ustin R .Dd

A. R. DODGE.

FLOW METER.

APPLICATION F|L ED MAY 1, 1914.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- lnvehtori' o lustin RDoq e,

His Oflttornag.

witnesses'i.

To all do hom it may concern:

AUSTIN R. DODGE, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLOW-METER.

Be it known that I, AUSTIN It. Down, a citizen of the United States,residmg at bchenectady, in the county of Schenectady,

. State of New Yorkyhave invented certain new and 'useful Improvementsin Flow-Meters, of which the following is a specification;

The present invention relates to flow meters and particularly to flowmeters for metering condensable vapors.

Th'e invention is hereinafter described as being-used to indicate steamflow, but it will beunderstood that it is not necessarily so limited;

One object of the invention is to provide a flow meter-which is simpleto construct, exceedingly light in weight, and which can be quickly andreadily attached in position.

Further objects, as well as the nature and novel features of theinvention will appear in the course of the following specificationwherein I have described certain specific Referring first to Fig. 1wherein I haveillustrated a simple form or arrangement embodying myinvention, 4 and'5 are the leading and trailing legs respectively of aU-tube which may be connected to any desired form of pressure differencecreating device arranged in the conduit through which the steam to bemetered flows. In the present instance the legs of the U-tube areshownas'being connected to a nozzle plug 6 arrangedin the conduit 7. The typeof nozzle plug illustrated operates on the principle of the Pitot tubeand is well known in this art. 7

The leading leg 4 is formed of a pipe of some material having preferablya fairly high coeflicient of expansion, and may be termed the expansivemember of the meter. The trailing leg 5 may be formed of the same or adifferent material. Suitable means I are provided to permit the leadingleg to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi led May 1, 1914. Serial No. 835,691.

expand and contract relative to the trailing leg. In thepresent'instance the trailing leg is rendered elastic to a certainextent as by having one or more reverse bends 8 between its ends.Attached to the lower end of the expansive leg 4 is one end of a pointer9 pivoted between its ends to the bracket 10 which is carried by thenozzleplug. The free end of the pointer works over a suitable scale 11.

At times of no flow, the two legs of the U- tube will be'filled'up. tothe nozzle plug with water and the pointer will stand at zero on thescale. If now a pressure difference is seti up by the device 6, due to aflow through thexc'onduit, the water in the leading leg 4 will belowered by an amount proportional to the rate of flow, water at the sametime being forced out of the trailing leg 5 into the conduit. The spaceabove the water in the temperature thereof and cause the leg 4 to expandthereby moving the pointer 9. As will be clear the amount of expansionof the leg. 4 will depend upon the length of the same exposed to thesteam, and as this will be proportional to the flow as alreadyexplained, the movement of the pointer 9 can be made to cooperate withthe scale to correctly indicate the flow. In the operation of a meter ofthis character when installed at a place {where the temperature may varyover a fairly wide range from time to time, or where a higher degree ofaccuracy is required than would result from the simple arrangement asshown in Fig. 1, it is desirable to provide means for maintaining theportion of the leading leg which .is not exposed to the steam at asubstantially constant temperature. In Fig. 2 I have shown anarrangement for this purpose. The arrangement of the nozzle plug and U-tube in this figure is substantially the same as that already describedin connection with 'Fig. 1 and corresponding parts have been designatedby the same reference numerals. The reverse bend 8 in the trailing orelastic leg is arranged somewhat nearer the top of the U-tube than inFig. 1, and the lower portion of the tube projects down into thereceptacle 12. This receptacle contains a suitable cooling fluid aswater. of the fluid in this receptacle as related to the U-tube is madeto vary up and down The level the leg 4 of Fig. l.

with variations in the flow so as to maintain the level in thereceptacle at a point on the leading leg even with the top ofthe watercolumn therein. As one means for accomplishing this result, I supportthe receptacle on a piston 13 which in turn rests on a' spring 14 in thecylinder 15. The upper surface of the pistonis subjected to the leadingpressure through pipe 16 and the lower surface, to the trailing pressurethrough pipe 17. Cooling fluid is fed to the receptacle by pipe 18, andis maintained at a constant level therein by the overflow pipe 19, whichmay be made of elastic hose pipe for example to prevent interferencewith the movements of the receptacle. The

' spring 14 will be of such strength as to balance the weight of thereceptacle 12 and its contents and maintain. it in what may be termedits zero position at times of no flow. When a pressure difference is setup by the nozzle plug 6, due to a flow of fluid through the conduit 7,it will be clear that this pressure difference will operate to lower thewater level in the leading leg 4 and at the same time operate to lowerthe receptacle 12. By this" means the level of the cooling fluid may bekept in line with the level of the water column in the leading leg 4. Inthis figure the trailing leg is shown as being provided at its upper endwith a reservoir 20. in order to minimize the error due to the change inthe relation of the static heads in the two legs of the U-tube whenthere is a change in the rate of flow in a negative direction.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, 22 and 23 are a pair of hollowstandards forming with the base plate 24 and top plate 2-5 a frame orsupport. Fastened into the top plate from the lower side thereof, as bythe U-tube, this leg being the expansible member of the meter andcorresponding to The leg 27 passes through guides 28 carried by thestandard 7 22 and has its lower end suitably secured in sis the block29. The top plate 25 is provided with an opening 30 into which projectsthe upper end of the reservoir 31 supported by the bracket 32 carried bystandard 23 and bolt 33. I The reservoir is provided with an opening inits base into which is threaded one end of the trailing leg 34 of theU-tube,

The leghas oneor more bends sure difference creating device. Carried bythe block is a rod 40, upon the upper end of'which is a rack 41. Thisrack meshes with a pinion 42 which, through pinions 43 and 44 moves thepointer 45 over the scale 46. The respective shafts for the pinions aresuitably supported by the angle plate 47, which carries the U-shapedbracket 48. 49 is a. suitable casing having a glazed :front within whichis arranged the scale and pointer. In the arrangei-i'ient illustrated inthese figures the leading leg 27 is shownas being lagged as indicated at50 so as to prevent the same from being affected toany appreciableextent by variations in the room temperature where the instrument isinstalled. r

The operation of the arrangement of Figs. 3 to 5 will be obvious fronithe description already given in connection with Figs. .1 and 2, theexpansion and contractionofthe leg 27 acting through. the rod 40 to movethe pointer 45. I v

It will be noted that the openings 30 and are at the same level so thatthe static pressure heads in thetwo legs of the U,- tube are the same atno flow. lvhenever there a decrease in the rate of flow. the water levelinthe trailing leg falls. This imbalances the relation of the staticheads and introduces an error until normal level is restored bycondensation. The purpose of thereservoir3l, as alreadyexplained inconnection with the reservoir :20 in Fig. 2 is to minimize the amount oferror due'to this cause, since owing to thelarger area of the reservoiras compared with the leg 34 there will be a' much less unbalancing ofthe pressure heads. i Q

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of myinvention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to r'epresent the best embodiment thereofbut I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new'and desire to secure I one end to the leading sideof the agent, and

means connecting the other end of the expansible tube t-o'the trailingside of the agent, said means being constructed and ar-- ranged so thatthe expansible tube may expand and contract due' to temperature changeswhile said means remains at substantially the same temperature. n;

end to the leading side of the agent, means connecting the other end ofthe expansible tube to the trailing" side of the agent, said means beingconstructed and arranged so that the expansible tube may expand andcontract due to temperature changes while said means remains atsubstantially the same temperature, and an indicating device r esponsiveto variations in the length of sald expansible. tube.

3. Ina flow meter, the combination of an agent for creating .a pressuredifference which bears a definite relation to the rate of flow, and aU-tube connected thereto, one leg of said U-tube being made ofexpansible material, and the other leg being reversely bent upon itselfto render it elastic.

4. In a flow meter, the combination of a nozzle plug, a U-tube connectedto and carried by said plug, one leg of said U-tube being made ofexpansible material and the other leg being elastic, an indicatingdevice,

I and means connecting the expansible leg to the'indicating device.

5. In a flow meter, the combination of a nozzle plug, a U-tube connectedto and carried by said plug, one leg of said U-tube being made ofexpansible material, and the other leg being'reversely bent upon itselfto render it elastic, an indicating device, and

means connecting the expansible leg to the indicating device. I

6. In a flow meter, the combination of a nozzle plug, a U-tube connectedto and carried by said plug, one leg of said U-tube being madeofexpansible material, and the other leg being elastic, an indicatingdevice, and means connecting the expansible leg to the indicatingdevice, the upper end reservoir.

7. In a flow meter, the combination of an agent adapted to create apressure difierence which bears a definite relation'to the rate of flow,an expansible tube connected at one end to the leading side of theagent, means connecting. the other end of the expansible tube to thetrailing side of the agent, said means being constructed and arranged sothat the expansible tube'may expand and contract due to temperaturechanges while said means remains at substantially the of said elasticleg being in the form of a 7 same temperature, and means for protectingof said U-tube being made of expansible material, and the other legbeing rever'sely bent upon itself to render it elastic, and means forprotecting the expansible leg from. variations in temperature.

9. In a flow meter for measuring condensable vapors, the combination ofan .agent for creating a pressure difference which bears a definiterelation to the rate of flow, a U-tube connected thereto, one leg ofsaid U-tube being made of expansible material and the other leg beingelastic, said U-tubehaving liquid of condensation therein the height ofwhich in the expansible leg varies With variations in the pressuredifference set up by said agent, a receptacle for containing coolingfluid into which said expansible leg extends, and means for maintainingthe level of the cooling fluid in the receptacle in line with the top ofthe column pf liquid of condensation in the expansible lO. In a flowmeter for measuring condensable vapors, the combination of an agent forcreating a pressure difference which bears a definite relation to therate of flow, a U-tube connected thereto, one leg of said U-tube beingmade of expansible material, said U-tube having liquid of condensationtherein the height of which in the expansible leg varies witlrvariations in the pressure difl'erence set up by'said agent, areceptacle for containing cooling fluid into which said expansible legextends, and automatic means controlled by the pressure difference setup by said agent for maintaining the level of the cooling fluid in thereceptacle in line with the top of the column height of which in theexpansible legvaries with variations in the pressure difl'erence set upby said agent, a receptacle for containing cooling fluid into which saidexpansible leg extends, means for maintaining a constant level ofcooling fluid in said receptacle, and means for moving the receptacle inresponse to variations in the pres sure diflerence set up by said agentto keep the level of the cooling fluid in line with the top of thecolumn of liquid of condensation in the expansible leg.

12. In a flow meter for measuring condensable vapors, the combination ofan agent for creating a pressure difference which bears a definiterelation to the rate of flow,

and a U.-tube connected thereto, one leg of said U-tube being made ofexpansible material and having liquid of condensation eherein, theheight ef which in the expem sihle leg varies with variations in thepressure difference set up by seici agent.

In a How meter for measuring COB" densable vapors the combination of anagent edepteii to create a pressure difference which. beers definiterelatien to the rate 01"" flew, and a U-tube cenneetei thereto, one legof eaiii U-tube being made of expensible meteriel file other leg beingelastic said U-tube having liquid of cemliensation flzerein the heightof which in the expansible leg varies wieh the variations in thepressmie difier ence by saidl agent.

In Wii 9 my hand mis 30th ciey of April 1.914;

AUSTIN Re DQDG-E,

m ss whereof, 1 have ,heremlfio sefi; 15

